Fundraising walks aim to support Parkinson’s research, advocacy
Cure Parkinson’s marks 20th anniversary with challenge events
U.K.-based charity Cure Parkinson’s is marking its 20th anniversary by inviting supporters to take on walking challenges to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research and advocacy.
“Our aim is to cure Parkinson’s and the only way we will do this is through the help of all our incredible supporters,” Helen Matthews, Cure Parkinson’s CEO, said in a press release sent to Parkinson’s News Today.
Cure Parkinson’s is hosting walking events throughout the year. Participants can join an Ultra Challenge, a series of organized walks of 10-100 km along various routes in the U.K., or join Cure Parkinson’s first in-person London walk on Sept. 28. Supporters can also organize their own fundraising walks.
Parkinson’s, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, can cause both motor and nonmotor symptoms. Although there are treatments that can ease Parkinson’s symptoms, there is not yet a cure.
Walking the coast for Parkinson’s research
Cure Parkinson’s was founded 20 years ago by four people living with the disease “who felt that nobody was taking a cure seriously enough,” the organization said. One of them, Tom Isaacs, decided to walk the U.K. coastline to raise funds to start the charity. He completed the year-long, 4,500-mile trek in 2002, and, with his three co-founders, established Cure Parkinson’s in 2005.
Isaacs died in 2017.
“This year we are encouraging our supporters to get involved with Cure Parkinson’s by walking, celebrating our late co-founder Tom Isaacs’ epic walk around the coastline of Britain,” Matthews said. Like Isaacs, supporters can walk to raise money that will help the organization fund research.
Sally Franck began participating in walking challenges after her Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2020. Through these events, she has raised more than £30,000 (approximately $38,000) for Parkinson’s charities. She says research into slowing, stopping, or reversing disease progression is important for her and her loved ones.
“There is no cure for Parkinson’s and that makes it a life sentence not only for us, but also for all of those who live with, love and look after us,” Franck said. “I know that what we all need is some hope; hope that a cure can be found as quickly as possible.”
Walking is also beneficial for health and happiness, according to Franck. “Walking brings so much pleasure, whatever distance you can manage,” she said. “A change of scene and fresh air, using muscles that are rarely used, a sense of accomplishment are all positives gained.”
Franck encourages people to participate in whatever way works best for them. This could be “walking 100 metres up the road or taking on a long distance trail,” she said.
About the Author
